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UN launches new push for Libya peace

The United Nations on Wednesday launched a new push to bring stability to Libya , which has been ravaged by chaos since the 2011 ouster of longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi .

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and a new UN envoy on Libya, Ghassan Salame , met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly with countries involved with the country ’ s troubles .

“ It is my deep belief that circumstances are now created in a way that allow for a solution to be possible , ” Guterres told the meeting .

“ I don ’ t think we can miss this opportunity. I want to ask all of you to commit very strongly to a common effort to make sure that we do everything we can to help our Libyan friends to come together and to find a future of peace, democracy , freedom and prosperity , ” he said .

The initiative aims to set up a roadmap that starts with amending a December 2015 deal that set up an interim government of national accord. Despite the agreement, Libya remains divided .

The meeting involved French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May — whose predecessors led the Western intervention to help oust Kadhafi .
It also brought in Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi , who supports strongman Khalifa Haftar ’ s rival Libyan National Army in the country ’ s east .

Fayez al-Sarraj , the embattled head of the unity government, said that the UN meeting agreed on the need for a government with authority over all of Libya .

“ Everyone present reaffirmed that the backdrop for a solution must remain a political one , ” Sarraj said in an address afterward to the General Assembly .

He said he asked the UN envoy to “ present us with a timeline and a clear message aimed at all those attempting to impede this process. ”
“ They must understand there is no military solution, ” he said.

Guterres said that the United Nations had a series of priorities including ensuring a unified command structure and improving the provision of goods and services to Libyans .
The UN chief also said it was critical to provide support to the mass of migrants who have made the lawless country their launchpad into Europe.